R.I.P.

RIP. 

I still remember where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with when it happened.

RIP.

My heart aches when I think about it. 

God bless those affected, all.

I was awakened by a panicked (then) spouse. The whole day (and many after) were surreal.

I was working security in Quebec. I was awaken by an emergency phone call to get in the office asap. I had no idea what was going on until arrived and people told me. The whole thing was surreal, almost as if the world was coming to its end. We were in orange alert mode for the week, and yellow for the rest of the month. My brother who had just gotten in town was hired for security on the spot on 9/12.

That was in good old Quebec, Canada. I can't imagine what it felt like for you guys here in the US.

I was in denial when I heard the news of the first plane.  It was only after the 2nd one hit that I began to accept that it wasn't a sick joke or miscommunication or an accident.  I was listening on the radio only, I was not at home, listening in the car on the way to a meeting at a school and then only radio at the school.

The horror of watching the buildings burning and seeing the 2nd plane hit when I did see it on the news was overwhelming.  I still grieve over the innocent lives lost and their families who thought it was just another day until mommy or daddy or grandpa, uncle, aunt, etc didn't come home again.

I had just pulled out on the highway leaving a plant with
a co-worker and heard on the radio of the first stike...we were
stunned and just couldn't believe what we were hearing.

I remember all the emotions I had...and still.

R.I.P.

I was in a swimming pool, which was normally full but totally empty on this day. I couldn't believe my luck, it felt so luxurious to have the pool to myself. I guess everyone else was glued to their TV's. Kind of saddens me to know that as I was gliding through the water in bliss, people were burning and choking and jumping in terror. 

When I got home I turned on my TV in time to see a rerun of the first tower falling. I was so confused and thought "why are they demolishing a perfectly good building like that?" 

When it dawned on me what had happened I kicked my TV over. 

I was standing at the counter eating raisin bran, watching the news.
The newscaster says, "oh, it appears an airplane has run into the twin tower"... Pause,,, "and in other news"
I went, Huh? 

Sorry to hear Julibee.

Here in NY, I was on my way to play golf with a good friend who worked at Lockheed Martin as an executive. As I pulled up to the toll booth, I saw 2 F16's go screaming over my car, fully loaded with missiles. Just then my cell rang and it was my friend telling me we were under attack, and he was going to be at his office until further notice and to go get my kids from school and keep them close.

I still remember looking at the sky, and it was such a beautiful day just like today was here. It's going to be with us forever folks.

Randy

May we never forget but try not and be afflicted by it also. May the young ones learn a lesson about it as much as the other date that will live in infamy.

Well said, Robert.  

I was running late for work that morning. Never turned the TV on ... just showered, and ran to the car.

I remember two things vividly about that day.

1. How little it effected the people around me here in the midwest. I was almost in tears, then came rage. Everyone where I worked was like, yeah yeah, making phone calls, plans for lunch ... and nobody ever talked about it.

2. I remember a lady New Yorker being interviewed on TV. She was talking about the rivalry between NY and NJ and how she changed her view of us. She said "'Those people' were lined up for blocks to donate blood and help out ... but nobody ever came to the emergency care centers because there were no survivors." You either walked away or you didn't.

I didn't know anyone there, but my sister did.

It all seems somehow even more unreal, surreal now, looking backwards.

I remember the day as well. I went into the lobby of a country hotel where a group of people was standing silent, stunned, in front of a TV. It took me the whole day to somehow REALLY comprehend it was all true and happening.

Homo Sapiens is so difficult to understand, so difficult...